Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

personally i don't sell metal detectors and don't care what you buy, but let me repeat what i said in the infinium vs 2200 forum. I just got back with four quartz pieces about three inches square and they where about four inches deep. I had to bring them home and put them under the microscope to see the gold. That was the sd 2200 minelab. If there is somebody out there selling the 2200 for 1200.00 dollars you better jump on that if your going to get serious about chasing gold. I have been doing this since the early 60's and I have used every brand imaginable and have never had anything impress me as much as that 2200.When we first got the 2200 we was about ready to trash it because we didn't think anything would detect as small as what we were holding in our hand. We were wrong.

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

hello all,my experience as a gmt owner,last couple years,wheat grain sized pieces,gmt any coil woll get it at 2 to 4 inches on average.you would definitely be in manual tracking,checking gb very often,run slightly positive gb.they are easy to pinpoint with and not much digging.as a ml 4500 owner,7 months,and yes,as someone above posted,commander 8inch round,6inch round sniper,6x10 joey mono,these coils approach the gmt in very small gold detection.when im done searching all the available shallow bedrock,i could then put on larger mono coil,say a 14r or 14e,and continue to hunt the deeper bedrock that my trusty gmt could never hope to succeed in.i always carry 3 extra coils.did i sell my gmt upon getting the minelab? NOPE,still love the gmt.enjoy occasionaly taking both out in the field same time.thats rarely practical.when theres only shallow bedrock,known in advance,gmt detector of the day.after learning the 4500,digging the sometimes huge holes required,gmt can be relaxing experience.but when the gmt was my only stick,i was always wondering what i was leaving behind,in the deeper material.from everything i have read,a tdi or a 2200 ml with extra coils ,either would be a great starter pi. and far more affordable.

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

Beyond any doubt, get a MXT with a 6X9 coil. With the auto balance and better depth than a GB2, you will be finding nuggets, if they are there, within 10 seconds of turning the unit on. You also have the option of other modes like coin and jewelry, and relic modes. It is truly one of the best machines that any amount of money can buy.....jim

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

Originally Posted by Willy

i had an XT 70 and found that while it was more sensitive than the MXT (HF DD elliptical vs 6x10" Eclipse) the MXT has a MUCH better ground tracking system, which makes it functionally better. The F75 is more sensitive than either.. with the stock coil to boot, but no tracking. I'd say "Bite the bullet and get a GMT"; it's about the best VLF nuggetshooter out there. A runner-up would be the MXT. ..Willy.

I couldnot agree more, Willy, except that I would opt for the MXT first and the GMT second. The MXT gives you the added fuction of being able to coin shoot and relic shoot with the 2 extra modes.....jim

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

I have been swinging a detector since 1962 and have found more than my share of nuggets . If I were you i would get a Minelab 2100 with a small coil (Coiltec Joey or smaller). While a vlf will probably find some of the shallow nuggets it is not capable of handling the mineralized ground on the deeper ones. A P.I. will find all but the very smallest ones. If you want a valid second opinion ask some one who own both, a PI and a vlf gold hunter, not some one who only own one or the other.

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

I'm sorry I forgot to tell you I've been hunting since the early 1960,s. I do own whites and garretts and bounty hunter and yes even the original teknetics.Since my father in law owns rental stores i got incredible discounts on all but (you guessed it) the minelab I had to buy the minelabs from kellyco. I still say the sd2200, even though I had to pay full price

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

Originally Posted by Yellow Hammer

I would disagree with what was said about a P.I. not picking up small gold. Using a 10x5 Joey Elliptical mono Search coil made by coiltek (213.00) you will find pennyweight and smaller all day long. It's all about the coil.

I went up against a Minelab 4000 2 months ago at Placerites and outperformed the very expensive Minelab 2 to 1 with my MXT. The fellow using the minelab was a full time professional prospector for 30 years. He was missing target close to the surface and was spending most of his time digging 1 to 2 foot holes.

Re: detector for SMALL gold nuggets

Originally Posted by Yellow Hammer

I would disagree with what was said about a P.I. not picking up small gold. Using a 10x5 Joey Elliptical mono Search coil made by coiltek (213.00) you will find pennyweight and smaller all day long. It's all about the coil.

Well said, i use 10x5 ventura custom with gpx 4500 . Listen to this person hes in the know.